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Hey, Brainstuff, Lauren Vogelbaum here with a classic episode for you from The Vault.

In this one, we look at the first things that we humans may actually be able to look at, period.

A growing fetus doesn't even develop retinas until the third trimester,

and we can't ask them what they see at that point.

But researchers have studied how they respond to visual cues during that home stretch before birth.

Hey, Brain Stuff, Lauren Vogelbaum here.

It might seem like fetuses aren't up to all that much other than growing in the cozy, warm

environment that is their mother's womb.

And, I mean, growing from a bundle of cells into an independently living, breathing

human being is a big enough job.

However, research published

in the Journal of Current Biology shows that third trimester fetuses have vision capabilities

much more advanced than previously thought, and further, they can choose what they want to look at.

Researchers from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom were keen on expanding the understanding

of fetal

psych capabilities. We spoke via email with Vincent Reed, the lead researcher and a professor

of psychology. He said, we've been able to explore the use of all the fetal senses except for vision

up until now. There's a lot that we know about newborn babies and their vision, but almost nothing

with fetuses

...